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LETTERS: Public can't handle amended property tax cap

FROM OUR READERS

To the editor:

The three mayors in the Las Vegas metropolitan area are not satisfied with the amount of revenue coming into their coffers. Now they want to take more from the property owners by amending the tax caps that our state legislators put in place in 2005 (“Mayors push to amend tax caps,” Tuesday Review-Journal).

In the last few months, the Clark County Commission approved an increase in the gas tax, Sheriff Doug Gillespie has demanded an increase in the sales tax — even though he has more than $100 million sitting in a reserve fund — and the teachers union is pushing for a 2 percent business tax increase levied on companies based on profits before expenses.

There is never-ending greed from politicians who are failing to see what is happening around Las Vegas. Small companies are going out of business, and our strip malls have a high vacancy rate. No matter how much money is collected, the politicians never seem to have enough. The public is seeing increases in prices across the board, and many of these taxpayers have not had a pay raise in years. And we still have a high unemployment rate. The only people getting raises are the city and county government employees.

My wife and I lived in California for many years, and we saw how devastating higher taxes can be on the community. Luckily, in the late 1970s, the people passed Proposition 13, which limited how much property taxes could rise. It prevented rapidly increasing property taxes from rising to the point that they would force people out of their homes.

Since this town is run predominantly by Democratic liberals, they should pause and take a look at how the admired President John F. Kennedy viewed taxes. While in office, he cut taxes, knowing that lowering taxes would cause the economy to grow, which would result in bringing in more tax revenue. It is a lesson that most politicians have never learned.

MICHAEL O. KREPS

LAS VEGAS

Police insurance

To the editor:

The wife of Stanley Gibson got a settlement of $1.5 million from Clark County for his wrongful death in an officer-involved shooting. That is the most recent settlement in a continuing string of deaths caused by our police. We had an incident in my neighborhood a few years back where police surrounded and shot an ice cream lady in front of her two children. The remaining family members left town after they received a settlement.

It was then that I realized we have some police officers who are too quick to shoot. Certainly, we understand the need for police to be wary and protective of themselves and others, but trigger-happy cops are a danger to all. There have been police reviews and studies to reform our police procedures, but unnecessary police shootings continue.

We have an idea that just might work to reduce police shootings. The police should start a fund to pay the premiums of an insurance policy to cover the department’s fiscal liability for the results of shooting or unnecessary force. Surely a large insurer would provide such coverage. Officers would contribute monthly to the insurance.

The taxpayers would have no further obligation, and the police, in the interest of keeping insurance premiums low, would be more self-policing with situations before escalating to the use of guns or other force. Most important, the unfortunate victims of unnecessary police shootings might be spared. It’s a win-win-win.

Rosa Lee and RICHARD N. FULTON

HENDERSON

Running out of patience

To the editor:

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday certainly brought income to our city and gave Las Vegas some needed positive publicity. However, the event was very disruptive to the local community, and for all too many residents, it was a gross intrusion into our lives.

Things such as not being able to get to planned events or keep show and restaurant reservations were probably costly to some businesses, but were mostly inconvenient to residents. Worse was the inability of workers to get to their places of employment, costing them needed wages, and to get back home to their families.

Worst of all was the inability of people in critical callings — such as nurses, doctors and even answering service personnel on whom doctors depend as their contact with patients — to get to hospitals or other places where they were needed.

Surely we have enough peripherally located streets on which to hold a sporting event, rather than cutting our city in half. This was very poor planning.

LEE BERNSTEIN

LAS VEGAS

Holiday stamps

To the editor:

We just received the official U.S. Post Office holiday mailer. I was saddened but not shocked at the new “Holiday Stamps” printed for this year. A stamp that says “Kwanzaa,” a stamp that says “Hanukkah,” and a third stamp showing a decorated gingerbread house. No mention of the word “Christmas,” for which the season was originally named. Not even a tree? Just a gingerbread house?

Just how low are the federal, state and local governments going to stoop to disrespect Christians? With the help of our benevolent American Civil Liberties Union, government has nearly succeeded in erasing Christmas from Christmas.

I wrote a complaint to the USPS voicing my opposition to the blatant omission of “Christmas” from their holiday stamps. Others can do that, too. Just go to USPS.com and follow the links to the customer service tab, and follow it to the contact selection. You have to choose from a menu of topics. I chose “Community issue.”

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